Kitchen Design, Plan Advice Please

6 years ago

Hi Houzzers!

We are currently trying to design a kitchen and I think I have looked at too many options and cant seem to see straight anymore :-) This is what we currently have... The kitchen will be built into a new space, an old bedroom so we have an open space to play with. We also can do whatever we like with windows/doors etc as these all need to be replaced anyway. I'll attach a plan and some sketch up pics. This is our favourite idea so far i think. Obviously we could go with a more traditional U shape layout but we like the idea of a set of french doors in the kitchen for light and access to the proposed deck outside. Does anyone have any advice/feedback on the layout... Im not sure about the cooktop position, was considering it on the island but here it is drawn on the back wall next to the sink.... Do we have a good triangle? Is that even a thing anymore, haha. Thanks in advance!

(**sorry, photos are just taken off computer**)

Featured Answer

oklouise

6 years ago

your plans and 3d images are excellent but the extra large fridge and cooktop don't leave much bench space...think about where you might position a kettle, coffee maker, toaster or other appliances to use and storage when not being used and what about cups glasses and coffe/tea making supplies...my first suggestion would be to have a stacked microwave and wall oven (600-750 wide) next to the fridge space to allow corner bench with easier access to the tall wall cabinets for pantry storage instead of the full height pantry, wide doored base corner cabinets for large appliance storage and with the dw between the cooktop and sink allows for easier access to the dishwasher and bench space on both sides of the cooktop...Love the look of the twin French Doors but prefer wide stacked doors to keep traffic away from the kitchen work areas and easier fly and security screening

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Comments (10)

siriuskey
6 years ago
Love your 3d what program do you use, I think your layout looks great fridge with oven and MW stacked with coffee/ toaster station next to that. I have my cook top in my island and love it but not sure your island is big enough but it doesn't matter as you cook top and sink work on that long wall BUT!!, you should add a glass splash back, behind the sink and cook top so that you're not looking at a wall doing dishes and cooking, boring!

Your Pantry needs to be fitted with drawers, better storage space and access

Also love the French doors they suit your house, I have seen them with both center doors opened out with a large tall potted plant in between them, beautiful. Lots of big drawers in the island as well, well done, cheers
Jo Heaydon thanked siriuskey
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PRO
Dr Retro House Calls
6 years ago
The concept of the kitchen linking to the deck is lovely and worth some compromises in the kitchen to achieve it. However I would be concerned with the amount of benchspace and preparation area. It looks like you may have been decieved with the tiny single bowl and drainer which has the scale of a caravan sink.

Most family kitchens have more than one bowl, and when combined with a drainer come to about 1200mm in length. This means that the only benchspace you have left is the island, and the space between your cooktop and the corner. The corner of the benchtop isnt space you can work in so your preparation area is very limited. I am assuming your mircowave is above the wall oven, otherwise you will have even less benchspace.

I would keep the concept of the french doors and start again, possibly with a traditional U-shape, but with the open top of the "U" facing the french doors to ensure that you have adequate preparation area adjacent to your sink and cooktops. This will need a complete re-arrangement, and may include fridge adjacent to the french doors so that you minimise unworkable dead corners of bench.

Best of luck with your planning,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls
Jo Heaydon thanked Dr Retro House Calls
siriuskey
6 years ago
I have 1 1/2 deep square sinks with single drainer and it's 1m, the only thing I would consider is swapping the cook top and sink (leaving a space between the cooktop and wall), you have 80cm for the cook top which brand is this? as most are 60 & 90cm. You could make your island a bit longer and turn your table around as per OK's drawing
Jo Heaydon
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you to you all for your comments and feedback :-)

Oklouise - i agree, not much benchspace which i didnt like. I really, really want a big pantry as ive lived with a bottom corner cabinet as my pantry for the last 7 years and its been painful! Thanks for taking the time to rework the plan.

Siriuskey - thanks for the compliments! The 3ds are just done in the free version of sketchup, but my partner is a professional draftsman so he has some expertise! The cooktop is just 600 wide. We love the french doors, and know they are probably not the most practical but i think they will give the place the real beach house feel we want.

Dr Retro - thank you for your constructive criticism. We have totally reworked the layout, your comments were very practical :-) We do currently just have a single bowl sink in there, unfortunately without putting the sink out on the island i think thats all we can fit. I am trying to squeeze a lot in there.. Currently live with a single bowl and find it ok and also getting a dishwasher so i think ill survive.

See below for new ideas roughly planned last night.....Definitely more conventional. Again, any comments appreciated...The dishwasher is between sink/cooktop and there are drawers/cupboards in the inside of the island/peninsula...
siriuskey
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
how much extra bench space do you think you would gain by doing this? rather than just extending your island?
oklouise
6 years ago
the island with French doors is much better suited to your open plan feel and the smaller cooktop allows for a with an optional drainer over the top of the DW but still prefer the oven next to the fridge with a 600 wide tall pantry door opening to a 1200 wide pantry..ie no door on the stove side and looks like the image in the 3D but gives full width access to the space when the single door is open
siriuskey
6 years ago
This idea to try and give you more space and a bigger over all feel for the kitchen.

The Island with added dining can be table or bench height

Cook top in the Island gives the perfect triangle, I love mine. Cook top can be swapped for a small sink as the cook top and a sink will fit on the same wall, great when dealing with hot things

I understand your pain re pantry/storage, the bifold doors on the tall wall cabinets allow for small appliances,ie toaster kettle and any others, The base corner cabinet b for pots and pans or crockery, these corner cabinets with both doors hinged on the right and with a a shallower "L" shaped shelf give the best storage and access for corner cabinets.

An extra narrow pantry between the French Doors of what ever length, only 20 - 30 cm deep with two large sliding doors, is great for food stuffs and dishes.

Please forgive some of my shown measurements my system won't allow me to be spot on today. cheers
siriuskey
6 years ago
Hi Jo, sorry I just realized that I had put a wall oven into your 600 pantry, in a kitchen needing as much bench space as possible an under bench oven really helps. So next to the pantry is the full height bench top cabinets with bifold doors, but minus the bottom of the wall cabinet, it would just be bench top. ( showing with and with out bifold doors, & the oven!)
siriuskey
6 years ago
And another thought with the fridge in the new position, I have left the 60cm pantry out but it could be returned by moving the 60cm cook top 30cm to the left and leaving a 30cm space on the RH side of the cook top and then the 60cm pantry in the RH corner, the oven is under the cook top but I don't have an under bench to add. A small sink in the island would also be good.